Giggs relaxed about Old Trafford future

Manchester United caretaker manager Ryan Giggs says his future role at Old Trafford will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Manchester United caretaker manager Ryan Giggs admitted on Friday that his future role at Old Trafford will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Giggs has taken temporary control of first-team affairs at United after David Moyes was sacked last month following less than a season in charge. There has been speculation that current Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal will be installed as the new United manager after the World Cup, something which left question marks over Giggs' long-term position at the club. However, the 40-year-old veteran midfielder remained relaxed over his future and admitted he had not yet decided whether he will carry on playing.

"Nothing's changed. It's just until the end of the season," Giggs said. "We'll chat when that's over and that's all.

"The way I'm thinking is I'm enjoying it. My concentration is the match against Sunderland on Saturday and the remaining two games.

"We'll see what happens at the end of the season - I've got to decide whether I'm going to play or not. There is no point in thinking if I want to be an assistant or a manager somewhere else.

"There's so many things to think about. Like I just said, I'm just concentrating on what I am doing at the moment.

"We'll have to wait and see. My concentration isn't on next season - it's on this season."

Giggs' immediate priority is the visit of relegation battlers Sunderland to Old Trafford on Saturday and he confirmed that he will check on the fitness of striker Wayne Rooney, who has been struggling with a bout of illness and a tight groin.

"A few of the lads have had a bug," Giggs said. "(Goalkeeper) Anders Lindegaard and Wayne have both had a bug. Wayne's also got a tight groin.

"And obviously with a bug you have to be careful with that because the immune system is down a bit. Wayne, being Wayne, wants to play and be involved so we'll just monitor him over the next 24 hours."

The Welshman also revealed that Netherlands striker Robin van Persie had returned to training after a knee injury, although the match against Gus Poyet's side could come too soon for him as United aim to steal a top-six finish.

"Robin has been back training this week and he's looked good," Giggs said. "Whether Saturday is too early for him we'll just see how he goes. But he's looked really good this week."

Giggs also admitted that despite the extra responsibilities of interim management he would still consider playing in the rest of the campaign.

The winger, who has made 11 Premier League appearances this season, did not name himself among the matchday squad for his first game in charge -a 4-0 win over Norwich City last weekend.

He added: "I'm still training and doing bits and pieces so I'm still in the frame of maybe playing the remaining games or being involved in the remaining games.

"It's just a case of keeping myself fit (but) win every game and I might not get back in because the lads are doing well. I'll just have to wait and see."

-SAPA

November 2017

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